The Xpander (and M12) are possibly the only synths that get me excited whenever I see a picture of them. I have never used one, never even seen one in the flesh but I've read alot about them. The combination of multi-mode analogue filters, functions like tracking generators, loads of envelope gens and LFOs per voice in one FAT case has to sound awesome (maybe I listened to too much New Order in the 80's).

One thing I'd like to ask, and don't take this personally. Have any of you spent a good amount of time on a Kurzweil K2500/K2000. The reason I ask is that the Kurzweil has to be the closest synth to the matrix 12 currently in production due to the flexability of architecture, the REAL DCOs and the enormous modulation matrixing possibilities that both instruments have. I know Kurzweil digital filters do not compare to that on the Obie but that aside how do they compare?

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Friday-Nov-20-1998 at 10:45

Don
a professional user
from USA
writes:

The Xpander is the best synth, bar none, since the Minimoog. It has the Oberheim quality, but went far beyond the OB8 and XA with it's 5 LFOs and powerful routing and programming options. I owned one in 1985-86, and I know I will find one again. It is the most luscious sounding analog beast of all. If we ever needed a higher mark than 5 out of 5, it would be in here.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Wednesday-Nov-18-1998 at 01:54

PJ Wasserman
a professional user
from switzerland
writes:

Hi there The Xpander is one of my favourite instruments, it's been broken for two years now and even the best technicians can't fix it. The problem lies in the T2 transformer which is absolutely esoteric (about 5 different voltages with frequencies up to 35kHz for feeding the tube displays). Nobody has been able to find out any exact data, in order to have a replacement transformer built. I'm in despair. If anybody out there can help me? I'll send you a CD or two of ours. Thanks a lot. PJ Wasserman clubware.magnet.ch, home of ETERNAL BLISS

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Thursday-Aug-06-1998 at 00:03

LARS
a 0 user
from switzerland
writes:

oberheim's xpander is (beside the m-12) the most flexible microcomputer-driven analog synth ever built. i wonder who was resposnible for the rom-programming since that guy knew what he was doing and specially he knew what MIDI was invented for.... one of the best!